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Aznar misrepresented reports
to justify Iraqi war
MADRID, August 11.— Spanish Prime Minister José
Maria Aznar misrepresented a report by U.S. weapons
inspectors to give the impression that Baghdad
possesses weapons of mass destruction (WMD),
confirmed today’s edition of El País, cited
by Notimex.
“Saddam Hussein’s obligation is to disarm the
weapons of mass destruction that he possesses, has
used and is going to use, and if not, then this will
be remedied,” assured Aznar on February 5, speaking
before the Spanish National Assembly to justify
Spain’s participation in the war.
In addition, Aznar presented a false inventory of
weapons that Iraq allegedly had, attributing it to
the weapons inspectors. But nine days before the
prime minister’s speech, chief inspector Hans Blix
stated that the report did not substantiate that
Iraq had any WMD’s.
El País
added that Aznar did not just misrepresent the
content of the inspectors’ reports, he also
attempted to show that the alleged WMDs were a
threat to Spain, “thus justifying the government’s
position.”
To date, the Spanish government and its leader have
remained on the margins of the scandals rocking the
United States and Britain over distorting
intelligence reports on alleged prohibited weapons
in Iraq.
ANOTHER U.S. DEATH
A U.S.
soldier died and five more were wounded in a bomb
attack by Iraqi resistance members in the northern
city of Baquoba, informed TV network Al Jazeera,
citing U.S. military sources, according to PL.
The total number of U.S. soldiers killed in action
since May 1 has now reached 62. That was the date
that U.S. President George W. Bush stated that
military action in Iraq had ended.
Also on Monday, U.S. troops shot two Iraqi policemen
“in error” in a suburb west of Baghdad.
Responding to the trigger-happy attitude of U.S.
soldiers, the Iraqi Council of Government has called
on the United States to treat Iraqis better and
avoid the “killing of innocent people,” reads ANSA.
The Council’s president, Ibrahim al Jaatari, told
the press that he has reiterated this approach on
various occasions in order to avoid the Iraqi people
“getting carried away by hatred” of the United
States and Britain.
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